COMPREHENSIVE MURDER REDUCTION STRATEGY
Table of Contents
Table of Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PROMOTE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY . . . . . . . 26
Message from Mayor Landrieu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
NOLA Youth Works
Summer Jobs Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
NOLA FOR LIFE Highlights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Plan Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
NOLA FOR LIFE PILLARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
STOP THE SHOOTINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
CeaseFire New Orleans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Group Violence Reduction Strategy. . . . . . 11
Multi-Agency Gang Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Project Safe Neighborhoods . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
INVEST IN PREVENTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
NOLA FOR LIFE Midnight Basketball. . . . . 16
Supporting Schools in Implementing
Trauma-Informed Approaches. . . . . . . . . . . 16
Expanding the Use of
Restorative Approaches in Schools. . . . . . . 17
NOLA FOR LIFE Reentry Strategy
(RISE – Reintegration Services). . . . . . . . . . 28
GET INVOLVED AND
REBUILD NEIGHBORHOODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Fight the Blight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Collective Efficacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Quality Of Life Stat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
NOPD Community Policing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Public Awareness Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
NOLA FOR LIFE Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
STRENGTHEN THE NOPD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Enhancing Relationships Between
Youth and Law Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
NOPD Leadership Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Family Violence Prevention Strategy . . . . . 17
Proactive Hot Spot Policing. . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
National Forum on
Youth Violence Prevention.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Improve Community Trust
with the Use of Procedural Justice . . . . . . . 39
NOLA FOR LIFE Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
COMPLETED INITIATIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
NOLA FOR LIFE Services Collaborative. . . 19
COMPREHENSIVE
MURDER REDUCTION STRATEGY. . . . . . . . . . . 41
NOLA FOR LIFE Mentoring. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Building Character in
NORDC Summer Camps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
The Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
VISION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Engaging Fathers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
MISSION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Connecting Students to Supports. . . . . . . . 22
Strategic Goals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Making Connections to Improve
Health and Well-being. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Ongoing Challenges & Themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Behavioral Interventions at the
Youth Study Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Youth Engagement Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Measuring Outcomes and Impact . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Innovation Delivery Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Acknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Positive Behavioral Interventions
and Supports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
NOLA FOR LIFE Resources
Mobile Website. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
1
MESSAGE FROM MAYOR LANDRIEU
Dear Friends:
Since taking office in 2010, we’ve taken on the top issues facing New Orleans. In
the last 6 years, we’ve made a lot of progress with a focus on citizen priorities.
Still, we continue to face daunting challenges. In 2015, 164 people were murdered
in New Orleans. That is down from 199 in 2011, but these 164 tragic stories leave
a terrible wake of destruction and heart break. One murder is too many. This has
to stop, and it can be fixed.
So in the spring of 2012, we decided to address the issue of murder head on. We
introduced NOLA FOR LIFE, a cutting edge and comprehensive murder strategy.
It is smart, holistic and hits the streets.
We’re now implementing 29 initiatives to protect our families and make every
person in our city feel safe. We’ve launched and expanded CeaseFire New Orleans and Midnight Basketball to interrupt the violence and connect young African American men to resources they need. Plus, the City has raised over $1 million for local organizations
that prevent shootings, and local volunteers have helped hit the streets with City agencies and the NOPD
to clean-up crime hot spots.
Through our work, we understand prevention and helping our young people and families succeed is the
key to a significant, sustainable impact. So in 2016, we are expanding our NOLA FOR LIFE prevention
efforts. Indeed, these front end initiatives now represent 15 of our 29 initiatives and they relate to everything from improving parenting skills, promoting positive school climates, building youth social and
emotional skills, expanding recreation opportunities for our kids and engaging local service providers.
We’re also connecting New Orleanians to opportunities with our Economic Opportunity Strategy, where
through partnerships with local training providers, social service agencies, community advocates and the
region’s largest employers we are helping people find work. This is really important, but still, step one in
NOLA FOR LIFE is stop the bleeding, stop the death, stop the shooting.
We’re investing heavily in our police department, and our innovative Multi-Agency Gang Unit includes
local, state and federal law enforcement. Since 2013, this special unit has conducted investigations that
have led to the indictments of over 110 violent gang members. But now is not the time to rest on our
laurels. In fact, we need to go further, faster especially when it comes to growing the department and
securing more resources.
I thank the dedicated community leaders, educators, service providers, law enforcement officials
and criminal justice experts who have worked with us hand in hand to help develop and implement
this cutting edge plan. Now we need you more than ever as we take our efforts to the next level. We
have the power to turn the tide against violence and create a city of peace. If we are united there is
nothing we can’t do.
Sincerely,
Mitchell J. Landrieu,
Mayor, City of New Orleans
2
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
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PLAN DEVELOPMENT
NOLA FOR LIFE: A Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy was developed by the Mayor’s Innovation
Delivery Team, in collaboration with the Police Department, Health Department, other City departments,
as well as agencies and community members across New Orleans. As a part of this effort, the Innovation
Delivery Team engaged key national and local crime experts, community service providers, law
enforcement and youth, as well as conducted a rigorous review of pertinent data. Promising initiatives
were generated through a review of existing city and community-led efforts, best practice research and
conversations with stakeholders.
NOLA FOR LIFE has utilized a public health approach to reducing violence since its launch in 2012. A
central part of the public health approach to address violence is the socio-ecological model, which was
adapted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This model takes into account the interplay between
individual, relationship, community and societal factors1:
•
Individual – Biological and personal history factors that increase the likelihood of becoming a
victim or perpetrator of violence, including age, behavioral control, substance use or history of
abuse.
•
Relationship – Close relationships, such as partners, social-circle peers and family.
•
Community – The settings, such as schools or neighborhoods, in which social relationships occur
and that may be associated with risk of violence.
•
Societal – The broad societal factors, such as social and cultural norms, that help create a climate
in which violence is encouraged or inhibited.
In order to prevent violence, it is necessary to direct efforts across multiple levels of the model at the
same time. For example, if you only direct efforts toward the individual level, this person could still be atrisk for violence if their peers partake in violence or if violence is prevalent in their community.
Within these levels, public health focuses on risk factors — factors that contribute to violence — and
protective factors — factors that are a buffer against violence. The CDC has identified 31 risk factors
and 20 protective factors for youth violence. Example risk factors include involvement with gangs
(relationship) and diminished economic opportunities (community), while example protective factors
include academic achievement (individual) and connectedness to family (relationship)2.
Reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors across individual, relationship, community and
societal levels are likely to sustain violence prevention efforts over time. The following initiatives are
designed to accomplish this in order to sustainably reduce murder in New Orleans.
1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The social-ecological model: A framework for prevention.
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/overview/social-ecologicalmodel.html
2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Violence: Risk and Protective Factors.
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/riskprotectivefactors.html
4
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
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NOLA FOR LIFE PILLARS
STOP THE SHOOTINGS
Focus like a laser on the small percentage of young men who are killing and being killed.
Our message to them: stop the shootings.
•
•
CEASEFIRE NEW ORLEANS
GROUP VIOLENCE REDUCTION
STRATEGY
•
•
MULTI-AGENCY GANG UNIT
PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS
INVEST IN PREVENTION
We cannot arrest our way out of this problem. NOLA FOR LIFE puts a heavy emphasis on
helping our young people and families succeed.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
6
NOLA FOR LIFE MIDNIGHT
BASKETBALL
SUPPORTING SCHOOLS IN
IMPLEMENTING TRAUMA-INFORMED
APPROACHES
EXPANDING THE USE OF RESTORATIVE
APPROACHES IN SCHOOLS
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION
STRATEGY
NATIONAL FORUM ON YOUTH
VIOLENCE PREVENTION
NOLA FOR LIFE FUND
NOLA FOR LIFE SERVICES
COLLABORATIVE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
BUILDING CHARACTER IN NORDC
SUMMER CAMPS
ENGAGING FATHERS
CONNECTING STUDENTS TO SUPPORTS
MAKING CONNECTIONS TO IMPROVE
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AT THE
YOUTH STUDY CENTER
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL
INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS
NOLA FOR LIFE RESOURCES
MOBILE WEBSITE
NOLA FOR LIFE MENTORING
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
PROMOTE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY
Neighborhoods that experience the highest levels of violence also experience high levels
of poverty and unemployment. Training and better access to good jobs provides a path
away from violence and toward opportunity. That is why Mayor Landrieu has created a
strategy to address Economic Opportunity, which connects disadvantaged job seekers and
businesses to new opportunities.
•
NOLA YOUTH WORKS SUMMER JOBS
PROGRAM
•
NOLA FOR LIFE REENTRY STRATEGY
(RISE – REINTEGRATION SERVICES)
GET INVOLVED AND REBUILD
NEIGHBORHOODS
To make New Orleans safe we all need to do our part, get involved and rebuild our
neighborhoods. We need everyone to have skin in the game.
•
•
•
FIGHT THE BLIGHT
COLLECTIVE EFFICACY
QUALITY OF LIFE STAT
•
•
•
NOPD COMMUNITY POLICING
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
NOLA FOR LIFE DAYS
STRENGTHEN THE NOPD
Strong police work combined with help from the community prevents violence in our
neighborhoods and quickly holds those who commit violence accountable.
•
•
ENHANCING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
YOUTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
NOPD LEADERSHIP TRAINING
•
•
PROACTIVE HOT SPOT POLICING
IMPROVING COMMUNITY TRUST WITH
THE USE OF PROCEDURAL JUSTICE
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
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STOP THE SHOOTINGS
Focus like a laser on the small percentage of young men
who are killing and being killed.
Our message to them: stop the shootings.
•
•
•
•
8
CEASEFIRE NEW ORLEANS
GROUP VIOLENCE REDUCTION STRATEGY
MULTI-AGENCY GANG UNIT
PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
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CeaseFire New Orleans
Based on the CURE Violence model (formerly CeaseFire
Chicago), which boasts a 40% - 45% reduction in shootings and killings in program target areas, CeaseFire New
Orleans specifically aims to reduce street violence in the
Central City neighborhood of New Orleans. In the fourth
quarter of 2013, CeaseFire New Orleans expanded to include a new Hospital Crisis Intervention Team at the University Medical Center Trauma Unit. This team responds
to violence across all of New Orleans with a proactive
emphasis on NOLA FOR LIFE hot spots.
The CeaseFire model uses violence interrupters and outreach workers with street credibility to interrupt and resolve potentially violent situations before they escalate.
The CeaseFire Violence Interrupters also seek to prevent
retaliatory shootings by mediating ongoing conflicts between groups. In addition, CeaseFire New Orleans aims to
change community norms about violence by mobilizing
support services and the larger community to demand a
change in behaviors that lead to shootings and killings.
Objective:
Reduce the number of shootings and killings in the
Central City target area and across New Orleans
through street level outreach and conflict mediations
that interrupt the violence
Performance Indicators Include:
•
•
•
•
10
Number of participants
Percent of participants meeting risk reduction goals
Number of violent conflicts identified and mediated
Number of shootings and murders in the Central
City target zone
Caswick Navarro
As a troublesome kid from
the St. Bernard Project, I
met one of the CeaseFire
staff members after being
a victim of gun violence
while I was on my way to
retaliate. My conversation with the staff member
caused me to have second thoughts about my
actions. I’ve been a participant for almost three
years, and they are all like my brothers. They give
me good advice, and they helped me find a job
that changed my life around. I’m now a part of
a program that allows me to learn photography,
videography and production. CeaseFire changed
my life, and now I always think before my actions.
NOLA FOR LIFE resources are really important to
people like me. Now that I am a participant, I aspire to be a motivational speaker for other young
people and victims of violence across the country.
Terrence Thomas
As a troubled teenager and
victim of gun violence, I was
introduced to CeaseFire New
Orleans. When I became
a CeaseFire participant, I
started changing my mindset and my outlook on life. After being enrolled
in the program for a year, I am now employed by
a local food service company, and as a seconddegree black belt, I hope to one day start my
own karate school. CeaseFire is a brotherhood—I
learned so much from the staff about life, patience
and goals, and now I share the same message
with the other guys like me in my community.
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
Group Violence Reduction Strategy
Implemented in New Orleans in 2012, the Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) is designed by criminologist David
Kennedy and targets geographic areas of high crime and the
groups that commit violent acts. Research has demonstrated
that cities where GVRS has been implemented have achieved
a 35% - 60% reduction in citywide homicides. This strategy
is grounded in empirical analysis that a small percentage of
people in violent street groups and gangs drive the majority
of violence in troubled neighborhoods. GVRS targets known,
chronic, violent adult and juvenile offenders by combining
enforcement attention to all violent group members with a
genuine offer of help.
In New Orleans, GVRS includes three major components:
• Collaborate with respected members of affected communities to deliver a single message to violent groups:
stop the shooting.
Brandon Plains
After coming home from
jail, it was still challenging
to turn away from a life of
crime. I attended the sixth
Call-In while under probation and parole. At the CallIn, the Mayor told us that we had an opportunity
to turn our lives around, or if we continued to
head down the wrong path, we would end up
in jail for a long time. I was introduced to the
GVRS service provider which helped me land a
temporary job with the New Orleans Recreation
Development Commission. I recently received a
promotion, and I’m now employed by the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans. I was ready
to turn my life around for my son, and the CallIn was the extra push that came right on time.
• Organize and build the capacity of social service providers, clergy and community members
so that they can provide support and services to those who no longer wish to engage in
violent lifestyles.
• Focus enforcement to specifically deter violent behavior and ensure consequences for
those who continue to commit violence.
Objective:
Assemble law enforcement, service providers and community members to deliver a strong
message to offenders, “stop the shooting,” while also dramatically improving access to social
services and the administration of swift and targeted enforcement for those who continue to
commit violence
Performance Indicators Include:
•
•
•
•
Number of individuals who attend GVRS Call-Ins
Percent of Call-In attendees who sign up with social services provider
Number of Call-In attendees who are active in case management services
Number of group-member involved murders
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
11
Multi-Agency Gang Unit
In 2012, the Multi-Agency Gang (MAG) Unit was formed by Mayor Landrieu and is the key enforcement component of the Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS). The MAG Unit conducts
simultaneous investigations on known violent groups. The goal: to secure state and federal prosecutions of these groups and remove large numbers of violent offenders from the streets. The
New Orleans Police Department is the lead agency of the MAG Unit.
The agencies that comprise the MAG Unit include the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD),
Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office (DA), Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO), Louisiana
State Police (LSP), Parole Board of the Louisiana Department of Corrections, United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United States Marshals Service
(USMS), and the United States Probation & Parole Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Objective:
Conduct investigations that lead to state and federal prosecutions of violent groups
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of investigations conducted
• Number of group indictments
• Number of group members convicted through state and federal prosecution
Project Safe Neighborhoods
In the summer of 2010, the New Orleans Police Department along with our federal partners
at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Attorney and the Orleans Parish District Attorney re-launched Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The NOPD dedicated eight new detective positions to this project, a dramatic increase from
the one PSN detective that was assigned in the summer of 2010. The initiative held violent
offenders accountable by making over 950 cases.
12
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
13
INVEST IN PREVENTION
We cannot arrest our way out of this problem. NOLA
FOR LIFE puts a heavy emphasis on helping our young
people and families succeed.
14
•
•
NOLA FOR LIFE MIDNIGHT BASKETBALL
•
EXPANDING THE USE OF RESTORATIVE APPROACHES
IN SCHOOLS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY
•
BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AT THE YOUTH STUDY
CENTER
•
•
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
•
NOLA FOR LIFE RESOURCES MOBILE WEBSITE
SUPPORTING SCHOOLS IN IMPLEMENTING TRAUMAINFORMED APPROACHES
NATIONAL FORUM ON YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION
NOLA FOR LIFE FUND
NOLA FOR LIFE SERVICES COLLABORATIVE
NOLA FOR LIFE MENTORING
BUILDING CHARACTER IN NORDC SUMMER CAMPS
ENGAGING FATHERS
CONNECTING STUDENTS TO SUPPORTS
MAKING CONNECTIONS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING
POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND
SUPPORTS
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
15
NOLA FOR LIFE Midnight Basketball
NOLA FOR LIFE Midnight Basketball is a free weekly
basketball tournament that provides males 16 years
and older with a safe and constructive space to interact,
build bonds, receive guidance from positive male role
models and get connected to educational opportunities, jobs and other support services.
Objective:
Provide young males in crime hot spots with safe and
fun recreation, positive male role models, access to
education and jobs, as well as other support services
Performance Indicators Include:
•
•
Number of participants
Number of players who sign up for educational
opportunities, jobs or other support services
Christopher Williams
Before attending Midnight
Basketball, I spent most
of my time working long
hours for a local pharmacy.
My love for the game of
basketball drew me to the
Midnight Basketball program, where I was later
introduced to a variety of resources offered by
NOLA FOR LIFE. The particular resource that
caught my attention was STRIVE New Orleans – a
four-week job readiness training program offered
through the Mayor’s Network for Economic Opportunity strategy. STRIVE helped me changed
my outlook on life, and now I’m working for the
Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans.
Midnight Basketball taught me that resources
are out there, and people really want to help.
Jeffrey Wilford
Basketball was always one of my first loves and this past season, I played with a purpose. For Season
10, I went out there with a mindset of winning the grand prize. I played hard, and my team won the entire tournament. During that time, a potential job opportunity required a certain amount of money for
me to be trained and certified. As soon as my team won the Midnight Basketball grand prize, I immediately called the employer and told them I was ready to begin the process for the job. Today, I am enjoying my new job in security at City Hall, and I look forward to one day owning my own business.
Supporting Schools in Implementing Trauma-Informed Approaches
Childhood exposure to violence is all too frequent. Exposure to violence is damaging to youths’
growth and development and increases the likelihood for involvement in violence later in life.
Schools can play an important role in providing aid to students who are experiencing psychological trauma, thereby preventing future violence.
In 2012, the New Orleans Health Department worked with New Orleans’ schools to create a process that links schools with counseling and victim assistance resources following a student-involved homicide. The City’s coordinated response to the tragic murders of children will continue,
ensuring that schools have the critical resources that they need to respond to students’ grief and
trauma.
Building on this, the Health Department, in partnership with local experts in trauma, launched a
learning collaborative in 2015 to support schools in implementing trauma-informed approaches. This collaborative effort is providing assistance for six schools to become trauma-sensitive
schools — aware of the prevalence of trauma and capable of responding to traumatized students’
unique needs.
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City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
Objective:
Provide support to schools as they transform school climate to become trauma-sensitive
and build schools’ organizational capacity to implement, sustain and improve the delivery of
trauma-focused services
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of trauma-related professional development sessions for schools
• Number of schools that implement trauma-informed practices
Expanding the Use of Restorative Approaches in Schools
Restorative approaches are an alternate discipline strategy that emphasize the reparation of harm
and relationship-building over punitive discipline. There is evidence to suggest that restorative
approaches can reduce suspension rates and improve school climate.
Over the past two years, the Health Department (NOHD) has supported the Center for Restorative Approaches (CRA) in providing training to school staff and community members in restorative approaches. As part of the project, CRA has trained over 60 individuals as facilitators
of restorative circles in schools, and CRA and CRA-trained volunteers have facilitated over 100
restorative circles at schools around New Orleans. As one of the top referring schools, Karr High
School is receiving assistance in the implementation of whole school restorative approaches during the 2015-16 school year.
Objective:
Promote positive school climates through the expansion of restorative approaches in New
Orleans schools
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of community volunteers recruited and trained
• Number of restorative circles facilitated
• Number of suspensions and expulsions in schools receiving “whole school” implementation
support
Family Violence Prevention Strategy
Family violence and homicide are often closely connected and childhood exposure to family violence can lead to a variety of psychological and physical problems.
The City of New Orleans seeks to interrupt the cycle of family violence by infusing violence prevention programming in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program. Adult WIC
participants are screened to assess the risk of intimate partner violence and provided a referral to
the New Orleans Family Justice Center (NOFJC) for appropriate further services. The screening
initiative is now a standard practice at City-operated WIC sites.
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
17
In addition, the Health Department has added a component aimed at preventing child maltreatment. In collaboration with the Children’s Bureau of New Orleans and the Tulane University School
of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, the Health Department is piloting positive parenting training programs — Triple P-Positive Parenting Program and Play Nicely — that are designed to teach
parents skills to help them build strong, healthy relationships with their children. These programs
have been shown to decrease child maltreatment but have never before been tested in the WIC
setting.
Objective:
Prevent, identify and support victims of family violence through City-operated WIC clinics
Performance Indicators Include:
• Percent of participants at WIC clinics who receive family violence screening
• Number of WIC participants who participate in parenting trainings
National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention
The National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention (the Forum) is a network of communities and
federal agencies that work together, share information and build local capacity to prevent and reduce youth violence. Established by President Obama in 2010, the Forum brings people together
from diverse backgrounds to learn about the crisis of youth and gang violence in the U.S. and to
build comprehensive solutions on the local and national levels. The goal of the Forum is to build
community capacity to prevent youth violence.
Supported by the Forum, the City of New Orleans developed the NOLA FOR LIFE PLAYbook:
Promoting Life for all Youth, a strategic plan to prevent youth violence in New Orleans. The PLAYbook is designed to improve youth safety by addressing risk and protective factors for youth
violence and coordinating resources for youth.
As a NOLA FOR LIFE initiative, the Forum is a link to the national conversation on youth violence
and has served as an incubator for innovative local, community-based initiatives to prevent youth
violence. The City of New Orleans has convened youth, service providers and community members for three bi-annual youth violence prevention summits, growing to over 150 attendees.
Objective:
Promote violence as a public health issue and prevention as a means to reduce violence
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of convenings providing an opportunity for solutions-focused dialogue centered
around the public health approach to addressing youth violence
• Number of communications materials (e.g. reports, factsheets, etc.) outlining the public
health approach to addressing violence
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City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
NOLA FOR LIFE Fund
Civic engagement and community support are essential parts of the overall effort to reduce
murders in New Orleans. The NOLA FOR LIFE Fund, managed by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, makes grants to local organizations to immediately increase their capacity to serve the
highest risk individuals in our community. The Fund will solicit donations and award grants to
community-based organizations that support violence prevention programs for young males between 16 and 24 years of age.
The City of New Orleans and the Greater New Orleans Foundation have identified expected outcomes for NOLA FOR LIFE grantees. Through the Fund, the plan is to:
•
•
•
•
•
Increase the number of high risk individuals that receive critical support services
Reduce acts of violence by and violent victimization of service recipients
Improve coordination of wrap-around services to high risk individuals
Create new efficiencies within organizations that serve high risk individuals
Create new ways of doing business within the local human services sector
Objective:
Increase community capacity to serve the highest risk individuals
Performance Indicators Include:
• Funds raised
• Number of grants awarded toward serving high-risk individuals
NOLA FOR LIFE Services Collaborative
The NOLA FOR LIFE Services Collaborative is a cohort of 20 social service organizations who
have committed to developing a continuum of services for boys and men of color at risk for involvement in violence in New Orleans. The Collaborative convenes 4 workgroups to address the
relevant service needs of youth, high-risk youth, high-risk young adults and adult returning citizens with regard to prevention, intervention and rehabilitation.
The Collaborative embraces the “collective impact” approach, ensuring that sustainable interventions and solutions are in place to improve outcomes for young men and boys. Since its launch in
March 2014, the Collaborative has completed a year of planning, during which the cohort:
1. Established common intake and assessment tools
2. Identified evidence-based best practice models and program standards
3. Established shared performance measures
4. Entered into a partnership with the Opportunity Youth Data Sharing Council to develop a
universal client tracking system
In December 2015, the Collaborative launched a pilot project for high-risk 14-18 year olds who
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
19
have been affected by violence. The pilot will test the efficacy of the common intake and assessment tools, evidence-based case management standards and how youth benefit from a formal
provider collaborative.
Objective:
Build a Continuum of Services for high risk individuals and develop and implement a pilot project
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of individuals receiving supportive services in the provider collaborative pilot
NOLA FOR LIFE Mentoring
The NOLA FOR LIFE Mentoring initiative works with existing community organizations to provide healthy mentorship
relationships for young males in New Orleans at risk of exposure to or involvement in violence. The initiative has established best practices, policies and tools to support highquality mentoring for these youth.
Objective:
Identify young males at risk of exposure to or involvement
in violence, recruit and train mentor groups specifically
for their needs and provide ongoing support for effective
mentoring
Jeremy Le (Mentor)
I was introduced to the NOLA FOR LIFE Mentoring Program through their partnership with
Communities in Schools. I wanted to get involved in community service and met Marcus
through the program. So far we talk about his
life, future and goals; go to the gym; and I took
him on a tour of my college campus. It’s going
well, and I look forward to my time with Marcus.
Performance Indicators Include:
•
•
•
Number of mentoring programs serving at-risk youth
Number of at-risk youth being mentored
Length of relationship between youth and mentors
Marcus Green (Mentee)
I wanted a mentor because one day at school I
was having a hard time. I knew I wouldn’t always
have my counselor to support me so I asked to be
a part of the program. My time with Jeremy has
been good. Our time together keeps my mind occupied on positive things. Since I met Jeremy, he
has inspired me to think about big goals like going
to a four-year college and choosing a career path.
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City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
Building Character in NORDC Summer Camps
Evidence shows that teaching young people social and emotional skills can reduce violence. Positive Action is an integrated and comprehensive program that is based on a unifying broad concept: one feels good about oneself when taking positive actions. Using cognitive techniques,
Positive Action promotes decision-making skills and increases self- and community efficacy. The
program emphasizes effective self-management, social skills, character and mental health, as well
as skills for setting and achieving goals to encourage positive outcomes in targeted youth.
Positive Action was piloted in the NORDC summer camps in the summer of 2015 with 560 campers. An evaluation of the pilot showed camper improvement in areas such as problem solving,
beliefs about aggression and beliefs regarding violence.
Objective:
Integrate social and emotional skill-building in NORDC summer camp activities
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of youth participants in Positive Action
• Improved social and emotional skills in campers taking the Positive Action curriculum
Engaging Fathers
Research has shown that kids and families fare better when fathers, whether residing at home
or not, are actively involved in their lives. Children with highly involved fathers are much more
likely to experience positive outcomes across multiple domains including: cognitive development, emotional development and well-being, social development, physical health, and fewer
negative child developmental outcomes. Studies have also shown that men who are involved
fathers feel more effective as parents, find parenthood more satisfying, feel more intrinsically
important to their child, and are more likely to engage in supportive interactions regardless of
negative mood.
In order to support NOLA FOR LIFE participants as they navigate parenting and seek to develop healthy relationships, the Health Department is launching a Fatherhood pilot using the
Parents as Teachers (PAT) curriculum.
Objective:
Increase parental knowledge of their child’s emerging development and age-appropriate
child development, and improve parenting capacity, parenting practices and parent-child
relationships
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of fathers participating in Parents as Teachers education sessions
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Connecting Students to Supports
Too often schools see their students become victims of violence. At the same time, students
who face academic, school discipline or attendance challenges while in school may become
more likely to become involved in violence. The City, local charter management organizations
and other partners will work together on a pilot to define the appropriate risk factors and identify students who are the highest risk for being involved with violence. A set of coordinated
supports and interventions will then be available for these students to reduce their risk factors
and strengthen protective factors.
Objective:
Identify students who are at the highest risk of violence and connect them with supports and
interventions to reduce their likelihood of future violence
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of students connected to support services
• Improvement in school attendance and academic performance
Making Connections to Improve Health and Well-being
The New Orleans Health Department, as a grantee of the Making Connections initiative, has
assembled a group of stakeholders invested in improving the health and well-being of African
American males by gathering community feedback and developing community level strategies
for addressing trauma, disconnection and isolation, as well as false perceptions of masculinity.
This will strengthen community-level protective factors for African American men and boys, as
well as connect them to behavioral and physical health resources.
Objective:
Integrate trauma-informed practices where African American boys and men live, learn, work,
play, and pray, while connecting them to behavioral and physical health resources
Performance Indicators Include:
• Development of strategic prevention plan to improve the mental health and well-being of
African American boys and men through community-level interventions
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City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
Behavioral Interventions at the Youth Study Center
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of mental health counseling that helps participants
become aware of their inaccurate or negative thinking. CBT is designed to help individuals view
challenging situations more clearly and respond to those situations more thoughtfully. There is
strong evidence that CBT, even delivered over periods as short as several days, is an effective
behavioral intervention for violent and at-risk youth. In 2016, the Youth Study Center will begin
delivering brief CBT interventions to juvenile detainees.
Objective:
Help high-risk youth change negative thinking patterns and develop new ways to respond to
challenging situations
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of individuals that receive the intervention
• Percent of individuals that receive CBT re-admitted to the Youth Study Center
Youth Engagement Strategy
When young people tackle a specific issue or social problem, their ideas and energy can contribute to improved outcomes related to that issue or problem. It is important for young people
to have an influential role in shaping the policies and programs that impact them. The youth
engagement strategy, with support from the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, will
create opportunities for youth to infuse their voice in NOLA FOR LIFE programming, and it will
partner with youth on the implementation of violence prevention initiatives.
Objective:
Develop a strategy to create a structure for engaging youth as part of youth violence
prevention efforts
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of youth engaged in development of violence prevention projects and initiatives
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Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based decision-making
framework that improves school climate by helping schools develop systems to use data for
decision-making and problem solving, arrange the environment to help manage the development and occurrence of problem behavior, as well as teach and encourage pro-social skills and
behaviors. PBIS shows promise as a violence prevention strategy because it promotes school
climates that are positive, safe and engaging, keeping kids in school and out of harm’s way.
The New Orleans Health Department, in collaboration with community partners, has provided
training and technical assistance to three New Orleans schools to build their capacity to implement PBIS. These three schools all reduced their expulsions from the 2013-14 to 2014-15 school
year, by a collective 45%. The City will continue to support local schools in the implementation
of PBIS, as well as advocate for high-fidelity implementation of PBIS throughout New Orleans
schools.
Objective:
Provide technical assistance and advocacy for the implementation of PBIS in New Orleans
schools
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of suspensions and expulsions in schools receiving technical assistance
• School fidelity of PBIS implementation
NOLA FOR LIFE Resources Mobile Website
The NOLA FOR LIFE Resources Mobile Website is designed to raise awareness and enhance
access to behavioral health, primary care and social service providers for the NOLA FOR
LIFE target population. The website allows users (service providers and the public) to identify services available near a given location, provides a service feedback loop, and allows for
continual updating of provider information.
24
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
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PROMOTE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY
Neighborhoods that experience the highest levels of
violence also experience high levels of poverty and
unemployment. Training and better access to good
jobs provides a path away from violence and toward
opportunity. That is why Mayor Landrieu has created
a strategy to address Economic Opportunity, which
connects disadvantaged job seekers and businesses to
new opportunities. The Economic Opportunity strategy
will focus recruitment efforts on areas of high violence,
ensuring all New Orleanians have a chance to benefit
from the city’s unprecedented economic growth. Learn
more at www.thenetworkneworleans.org.
•
•
26
NOLA YOUTH WORKS SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM
NOLA FOR LIFE REENTRY STRATEGY
(RISE – REINTEGRATION SERVICES)
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
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NOLA Youth Works Summer Jobs Program
The Mayor’s 2015 NOLA Youth Works Summer Jobs Program was a multifaceted effort that provided 960 summer employment opportunities for youth ages 14-21 with rewarding summer work
experiences at private companies, non-profit organizations and other entities. In addition, specialized programming was provided to 57 adjudicated or court involved youth. Program components
included Work and Learn, Signature, Athletics & College, Junior Camp Counselor, Traditional and
Intern NOLA. Furthermore, in partnership with JOB1 and the City’s Office of Workforce Development, 10 NORDC summer teen camps offered local teenagers career exploration seminars in a
variety of job fields.
Objective:
Provide summer jobs for 800 youth
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of youth employed through the program
• Number of adjudicated youth offered specialized services
NOLA FOR LIFE Reentry Strategy (RISE – Reintegration Services)
Approximately 6,500 offenders are under probation or
parole supervision in New Orleans. An estimated twothirds of this population will commit new crimes and
one-third will be re-incarcerated within three years of
their release. Working with community partners, the City
of New Orleans has developed a comprehensive reentry strategy to reduce the recidivism rate in Orleans Parish. To further this work, the City of New Orleans was
awarded $824,665 in late 2015 from the U.S. Department
of Justice (DOJ) to strengthen community-based reentry efforts in Orleans Parish in order to reduce recidivism
and the incarceration rate.
Through formalized partnerships between key City departments, members of the criminal justice system, business, civic and faith-based communities, the City has developed a reentry strategy and pilot program for reentry
employment with at least 100 justice-involved adults and
youth participating. Of the over 100 individuals who have
participated in the pilot program, 44 have been connected to employment and the six-month recidivism rate is
5%. The strategy is:
28
Jordan Collins
While I was enrolled in a
local four-year college, I
was incarcerated for making some bad decisions. I
spent six months in prison
and during that time my
mother was introduced to the NOLA FOR LIFE
Reentry Program. When I returned to society,
the program helped me with my resume writing
skills and job search. My job search was challenging, and I faced setbacks because of my criminal
background. I started volunteering as a tutor for
a local non-profit organization while I continued
searching for a job. I recently received my bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I am working
as a year-round lifeguard. I am also enrolled in a
four-month intensive learning program that will
allow me to have an associate degree in industrial technology. The NOLA FOR LIFE Reentry
Program has given me a different outlook on decision-making and guided me along my journey.
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
•
Working to strengthen and increase access to the
social service and employment services pipeline for
formerly incarcerated people.
•
Creating a unified case management system for quality assurance, monitoring and reporting on services
provided to formerly incarcerated participants.
•
Implementing a group support model to target criminogenic thinking and behavior of participants in a
peer-to-peer environment.
•
Advocating for policy changes that would remove barriers to reintegration into society for formerly incarcerated people.
•
Working with the business community to increase opportunities for formerly incarcerated people in employment.
•
Working with state and regional partners to leverage
resources to improve outcomes for formerly incarcerated people throughout Louisiana.
Paris Sumas
After spending ten months
incarcerated, I was introduced to the NOLA FOR
LIFE Reentry Program two
months after my release.
The program immediately
helped me get on my feet with scheduling meetings and interviews, and obtaining the proper interview attire. I began my new journey by joining a
trade school program and gained certifications as
an environmental technician. Today, I am enrolled
in a program at a local community college for a
career in welding. NOLA FOR LIFE was the best
thing to ever happen to me. They are reaching
out to young black men who are seeking help and
need help—it changed my life, and there’s nothing
else that can top my experience with this program.
Objective:
Create a strategy for effective reentry services and generally support formerly incarcerated
people’s efforts to integrate back into society
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of participating formerly incarcerated individuals
• Number of education or employment services that are provided to formerly incarcerated
individuals
• Recidivism rate for formerly incarcerated individuals who participate in reentry programming
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29
GET INVOLVED AND REBUILD
NEIGHBORHOODS
To make New Orleans safe we all need to do our part,
get involved and rebuild our neighborhoods. We need
everyone to have skin in the game.
•
•
•
•
•
•
30
FIGHT THE BLIGHT
COLLECTIVE EFFICACY
QUALITY OF LIFE STAT
NOPD COMMUNITY POLICING
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
NOLA FOR LIFE DAYS
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
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Fight the Blight
Blight threatens public safety, lowers property values, holds back neighborhoods and degrades
quality of life. By reducing the number of dangerous, blighted properties, neighborhoods can be
revitalized and become safer places to live.
Lot Maintenance Plus is a proactive, place-based response to blight, concentrating grass cutting in six targeted neighborhoods that were selected by a data-driven process that focuses on
homicide statistics and code enforcement cases. The grass is cut by members of the NOLA FOR
LIFE target population, providing them with employment opportunities and wrap-around services. Over 1,400 properties have been cut and maintained since August 2014.
In addition, overall blight reduction efforts will be coordinated to focus on NOLA FOR LIFE target
neighborhoods. Concentrating efforts means that there will be a visible, tangible impact.
Objective:
Reduce blight in targeted areas to create safer neighborhoods
Performance Indicators Include:
•
•
•
•
Number of Code Enforcement inspections in NOLA FOR LIFE target neighborhoods
Number of lots cut in NOLA FOR LIFE target neighborhoods
Number of youth employed by Lot Maintenance Plus
Number of life skills, job readiness and financial literacy classes received by youth employed
by Lot Maintenance Plus
Collective Efficacy
Collective efficacy at the community level is defined by attachment and mutual trust among
residents of a neighborhood and their willingness to intervene on behalf of others’ well-being.
Neighborhoods with high levels of collective efficacy are able to work together to reduce violence. The Health Department will launch a collective efficacy study in a sample of New Orleans
neighborhoods to determine a baseline and to inform strategies for encouraging and supporting
community based efforts to reduce violence.
Objective:
Determine a baseline measure of collective efficacy in focus communities and inform strategies
for community based efforts to reduce violence
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of communities surveyed
• Publication of a collective efficacy report
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City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
Quality Of Life Stat
In 2012, the Mayor created Quality Of Life Stat, the City’s first performance management tool
for issues of public nuisance and quality of life. During monthly stat meetings City leaders and
members of the public work together to review important quality of life related issues in neighborhoods and brainstorm about how best to ensure that the City is hitting its marks, protecting
neighborhoods and tackling important quality of life issues.
Objective:
Use data from Quality Of Life Stat to identify solutions, make adjustments and improve overall
performance
Performance Indicators Include:
• Percent of relevant departments that attend 80% of annual meetings
NOPD Community Policing
NOPD has rededicated itself to community policing efforts and made community policing part of
the department’s core mission. NOPD has rapidly improved the department’s communication and
partnership with the community. Actions include, but are not limited to:
• Next of Kin Meetings — These meetings give families of murder victims the opportunity to
meet with detectives one-on-one to discuss the investigation.
• Public Access to COMSTAT Meetings — At COMSTAT meetings top NOPD leadership crunch
data, discuss trends, and troubleshoot problems. Since June 2010, these meetings have been
open to the public.
• Public Crime Mapping Information — Starting in May 2011, the public can now access the
formerly internal NOPD Omega Crime View mapping technology. This sophisticated software allows users to focus on even a specific address and see a broad range of current crime
analysis data.
• Citizen Advisory Panels — These community member panels work to educate and inform the
NOPD about challenges and issues of concern in specific neighborhoods.
• Walk-Throughs at Schools —­Walk-throughs bring uniformed patrol officers into elementary
and middle schools to build relationships with young people.
Objective:
Provide opportunities for the community to partner with NOPD
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of Community meetings
• Number of Quality of Life activity reports
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33
Public Awareness Campaign
Murder’s impact is wide, deep and does not just affect victims and perpetrators. All of New Orleans suffers because of this violence. Indeed, New Orleans is losing an entire generation of young
black men to the streets. The NOLA FOR LIFE public awareness campaign, designed pro bono, by
filmmaker Spike Lee, is meant to be part of a larger coordinated effort to start a broad conversation within the community about ways to stop the shooting and change behavioral norms about
violence.
Launched in July 2013, the NOLA FOR LIFE Channel highlights the comprehensive movement to
reduce the murder rate in New Orleans, Louisiana. The compelling original and existing content
runs on Cox Cable Channel 99, airing diverse programming and the inspirational stories of young
men who are taking a stand to turn away from violence.
Objectives:
1. Communicate with all parts of the community about issues of violence and ways to change
behavioral norms and
2. Start and sustain the conversation about how New Orleans can engage young African
American men to change behavioral norms and stop the shooting
Performance Indicators Include:
• Social media presence measured by media mentions, Twitter and Facebook followers and
website visits
• Number of NOLA FOR LIFE presentations to various community stakeholders
NOLA FOR LIFE Days
From Taylor and Hardin Parks, to East Shore and McDonough Playground, on NOLA FOR LIFE
Days hundreds of citizens have come together to hit the streets with community groups, City
agencies, and the NOPD to clean-up crime hot spots. Volunteers have cleaned up overgrown lots,
removed abandoned tires and vehicles, fixed hundreds of potholes and streetlights, and helped
paint and renovate public parks.
Objective:
Help high crime neighborhoods by mobilizing volunteers to address issues threatening public
safety and quality of life
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of volunteers
• Number of infrastructure improvements in the neighborhood
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City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
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35
STRENGTHEN THE NOPD
Strong police work combined with help from the
community prevents violence in our neighborhoods and
quickly holds those who commit violence accountable.
•
ENHANCING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN YOUTH AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT
•
•
•
NOPD LEADERSHIP TRAINING
36
PROACTIVE HOT SPOT POLICING
IMPROVE COMMUNITY TRUST WITH THE USE OF
PROCEDURAL JUSTICE
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
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37
Enhancing Relationships Between Youth and Law Enforcement
Youth need to trust law enforcement; at the same time, many police officers yearn for positive
interactions with young people. As part of this initiative, NOPD officers built relationships with
youth by teaching the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) curriculum to over
800 youth in schools and summer camps. In addition to developing positive relationships, it also
taught the youth to avoid gang membership and violence.
Police Activity Leagues set out to prevent juvenile crime and violence by building a bond between police officers and youth through a variety of recreational, athletic and educational activities. These leagues have shown to decrease youth delinquency and improve communication
skills, self-discipline, interpersonal relationships and academic performance. In partnership with
NORDC, NOPD will launch a sports league that allows for positive interaction between youth and
police.
In addition, forums for structured dialogue between youth and police officers will be held. These
dialogues will help participants break down stereotypes and communication barriers, while building mutual respect and understanding.
Objective:
Promote positive interactions and build trust between youth and law enforcement
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of youth participating in athletic leagues supported by police officers
• Number of facilitated dialogues between youth and police officers
NOPD Leadership Training
In the spring of 2012, the highly respected International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
trained a total of 100 NOPD leaders in the Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO) trainings
in two, separate 3 week sessions. In 2013, the NOPD partnered with IACP to provide additional
training to 14 NOPD leaders who subsequently shared the LPO training with NOPD supervisors in
2014 and 2015. To date, over 200 supervisors have received the training and additional sessions
are planned for 2016. Also in 2015, 25 of NOPD’s senior leadership completed the Fair & Impartial
Policing training, sponsored by the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
Objective:
Provide NOPD officers with 100,000 hours of training
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of hours of training
• Number of officers trained
38
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
Proactive Hot Spot Policing
Since November 2001, the NOPD has used Data Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety
(DDACTS) - with the installation of a state-of-art crime analytic software package “Omega Crime
View” - to proactively focus on high-activity crime hot spots. Since the start of 2012, the NOPD
has developed and used an additional mapping strategy called Data Driven Violent Crime Trends
(DDVCTS). DDVCTS focuses Omega Crime View analytics on homicides, shootings, gun arrests
and drug arrests. This proactive approach maps crime trends and drives daily deployment strategies to target even more discrete “hot spots” of violent crimes in the city. However, the goal is
to go beyond simply arresting violators, and to broadly work with the community to promote a
sense of order in these specific problem areas. The goal is to have the community and police work
together hand in hand to take back the hot spots from the criminals.
Objective:
Map violent and drug crimes to target the deployment of NOPD officers to hot spot areas of
the city
Performance Indicators Include:
• Number of Part I and drug crimes in identified DDACTS and DDVCTS hot spots
Improve Community Trust with the Use of Procedural Justice
For too long, a few corrupt cops have caused much pain and agony for the people of New Orleans. Today, with strong allies in the hundreds of honest cops who honorably protect and serve,
the City of New Orleans is charting a new path forward with a new NOPD.
Since 2010, the City has strengthened the NOPD Public Integrity Bureau by appointing a civilian
leader who has two FBI agents detailed to the office. There is additional oversight of the department from the Independent Police Monitor and the Office of Inspector General (OIG). Furthermore, the NOPD has added emphasis on procedural justice with new training that highlights the
importance of fair, impartial and unbiased police conduct.
With continuous improvement in mind, the NOPD released new training documents which aim to
better educate officers about the importance of ‘selling the stop’ through clear communication
and fairness during investigations.
Finally, the Independent Police Monitor developed a mediation program between NOPD officers
and citizens to resolve citizen complaints while building trust between NOPD and the community.
Twenty-one mediations were completed in 2015.
Objective:
Enhance public satisfaction with the police department by providing procedurally fair, direct
interactions with the police
Performance Indicators Include:
• Increased trust and confidence in the Police Department as measured by polling results
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
39
COMPLETED INITIATIVES
Since the launch of NOLA FOR LIFE in 2012, a number
of initiatives have been fully implemented and
accomplished their objectives. The following initiatives
have been completed or have been integrated into
ongoing City operations.
40
•
•
VIOLENT CRIME IMPACT TEAMS (VCIT)
•
•
MAYOR’S STRATEGIC COMMAND TO REDUCE MURDER
•
•
•
•
•
•
PROTECT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
COORDINATE & STRENGTHEN THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SYSTEM
CONNECTING HIGH NEED STUDENTS TO THE
COORDINATED SYSTEM OF CARE
LOT MAINTENANCE PILOT PROGRAM
STAND UP THE NOPD CRIME LAB
BEEF UP THE NOPD HOMICIDE UNIT
PROJECT BLOODWORK
RELEASE PUBLIC CALLS FOR SERVICE DATA
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
THE PROBLEM
Nearly 15,000 Americans are murdered every year on the streets of America. The City of New Orleans
has often had a per capita murder rate more than ten times the national average and a rate much
higher than other comparable cities. In 2011, 199 individuals lost their lives as victims of murder on
the streets of New Orleans. In 2014, we saw the lowest number of murders in New Orleans since 1971
and the third consecutive year with fewer murders. In 2015, the number of murders rose slightly, but
still the murder rate was 22% lower than in 2011.
VISION
Youth and families flourishing in safe neighborhoods with high quality educational,
economic, and cultural opportunities that enable each person to be healthy, self-reliant
and able to realize their dreams and aspirations.
MISSION
Work with community and agency partners to develop and implement a comprehensive
strategy that reduces murder in the city of New Orleans by employing targeted
prevention, intervention, enforcement and rehabilitation initiatives.
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
41
STRATEGIC GOALS
Develop, implement and support
multi-disciplinary and data-driven
prevention, intervention, enforcement
and rehabilitation initiatives.
The City of New Orleans is fortunate to
have many extraordinary organizations
that address the needs of citizens.
This plan seeks to enhance existing
initiatives and support the creation and
implementation of new anti-murder
efforts that are data-driven and
multidisciplinary.
42
Facilitate effective
interagency communication
and information sharing.
A major barrier to effective policy
creation and implementation
Promote civic engagement to stop violent
is a lack of information sharing
behavior amongst young black males.
across agencies and disciplines.
Murder can be prevented by changing behavioral
Building on existing efforts, such
norms. The City of New Orleans will promote
as the Mayor’s Strategic Command
community engagement efforts that promote the
to Reduce Murder, the City of
value of all human life, non-violent resolution to
New Orleans will encourage and
conflicts and investment in the lives of at-risk
facilitate continued interagency
young black males.
collaboration to ensure that all
murder reduction initiatives are
well-informed, comprehensive,
targeted and can be measured
for effectiveness.
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
ONGOING CHALLENGES & THEMES
Major challenges identified include:
•
•
•
•
•
A lack of trust between law enforcement
and the community.
•
Gaps in access to support services in
disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The lack of consistent, serious
consequences for violent crimes and
repeat violent offenders.
Availability of firearms.
•
•
Limited coordination and communication
across the board between schools,
social service and health providers,
neighborhoods and the criminal justice
system.
Violence has been normalized in our
communities.
Lack of perceived self-efficacy amongst
young men and boys of color.
A lack of coordination throughout the
criminal justice system.
Common themes from criminal justice and community stakeholders on how to reduce murder:
•
•
•
•
•
Improve education, job training and job
placement for young black males.
Ensure robust community policing that
builds relationships and trust between
residents and the NOPD.
Ensure availability of targeted, effective
social services and prevention programs.
Ensure targeted law enforcement and
prosecution for violent offenders and
repeat offenders.
•
•
•
Improve reentry services to reduce the
recidivism rate.
Promote the dreams and aspirations of
males most at risk of being victims or
perpetrators of violence.
Ensure that anti-murder efforts are
comprehensive and address the problem
in a holistic way.
Improve policies and practices
concerning pre-trial services,
prosecution and sentencing.
April 2016 | City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
43
MEASURING OUTCOMES AND IMPACT
A set of performance outcomes for NOLA FOR LIFE: A Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy
has been established, and will be used to measure progress toward murder reduction and the City’s
strategic goals. As this is an ongoing process, there may be a need to review and amend measures
after consultation with partners.
As the plan is implemented and refined, additional output and outcome measures will be developed
to measure the effectiveness of individual initiatives. It is important to note that this plan emphasizes the use of evidence-based strategies and programming throughout the implementation process,
with decisions informed by the ability to demonstrate success.
INNOVATION DELIVERY TEAM
The Innovation Delivery Team is a component of the Mayor’s Project at Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Thanks in large part to a grant by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the City of New Orleans has a team of
top performers who bring rigorous focus and best-in-class practices to identify and deliver powerful
solutions to major urban challenges. The City of New Orleans’ Innovation Delivery Team is specifically
assigned to assist lead departments within City Hall in developing innovative strategies that reduce
murder holistically. This team enables better research and selection of murder reduction initiatives,
and support for implementation, performance evaluation and reporting.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to the organizations, community partners and individuals that have stepped up to
support NOLA FOR LIFE. Reducing murder on the streets of New Orleans is Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s
top priority, but could not be done without our key partners who make this work possible.
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City of New Orleans Comprehensive Murder Reduction Strategy | April 2016
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